Means for drying thread or the like



Dec. 30, 1941. L. E. LOV ETT 2,257,985 MEANS FOR DRYING THREAD OR THE LIKE- Filed Aug. 31, I938 2 Shets-Sheet l Inventor Louls E. LOvETT;

Dec. so, 1941.? L. E. Lov f 2, 7,98

Mmus FOR mange THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 31, 1938 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 V jnnentpr Louls E. LOVETT By M I Q ttorneg Patented Dec. 30, 1941 MEANS FOR DRYING THREADOR THE LIKE :Louis E. Lovett, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon #Corporation, Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1938, Serial No-227,75 6

'9 Claims.

The present invention pertains to means for drying thread-like articles in a series *of loosely suspended loops permitting unrestrained shrinkage to take place.

While the apparatus of the invention may be employed to advantage in the drying of threadi like articles'generally, all of which'are intended to be included within the scopeof the instant application, theinvention is particularly/useful in connection with the drying of thread-like articles "of synthetic origin, such, for example, as multiple filament thread produced according to the viscose, cuprammonium, :cellulose acetate or casein processes. For the sake of simplicity, the description will be limited 'to the processing of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread. The term thread will, however, be used in the claims in a generic sense to cover not only "any multiple filament thread of "the kind customarily employed in knitting and "weaving operations but thread-like articles generally, regardless of whether they are of natural :or synthetic origin.

It is especially desirable that artificial silk thread have uniform physical and phys'ico-c'hemical characteristics throughout "its entire length,

particularly a uniformly low residual capacity to shrink. Uniformity of these characteristics is of paramount importance in thread employed in weaving for the reason that'inthe course of their manufacture woven 'fabrics "are subjected to washing, dyeing and similar operations after which they -aredried in tentering frames. Ifthe thread from which thefabricis woven possesses a non-uniform or, ifuniform, a substantial residual capacity to shrink, tearing o'fthe cloth in the tentering "frames may result. Other diificulties, particularly in "dyeing, result if the physical and physico-chemical "properties of the thread are not uniform.

The term residual capacity to shrink has reference to 'the amount, in proportion to its original length, by which a dry thread Will'shrink upon being rewet and redried under conditions permitting it to shrink without restraint.

Thread dried in the manner characteristic of the 'usual discontinuous processes, such, for example, as the conventional spool-spinning system, possesses a very high residual capacity 'to shrink, in addition to which it possesses nonuniform physical and physico-chemical characteristics. Numerous undesirable 'concomitants develop such, for example, -as the tearing of cloth inthe tentering frames in consequence of uneven "shrinkage properties, :as well as defects in the dyeing of the finished goods of the kind known as dye barre, shiners, railroad tracks, 'etc. Such difficulties are partly or wholly traceable to the fact that the thread is not permitted to shrink freely when dried on the spool, on which varying degrees of tension are exerted upon the thread in consequence of the fact that certain layers are prevented from shrinking either by the rigid spool or by the undried center of the package.

Many proposals looking to the substitution of collapsible winding spools for the conventional spin spools have been made with a view to overcoming difficulties of the kind referred to above.

"Other suggestions have been directed to the use of padded spools as a possible solution'to the ing operation and furthermore are not adaptable to a continuous method of producing thread,

which presents much the same problems as those experienced in the discontinuous processes.

In contrast to the above-described practices, the novel method and apparatus of the instant application overcome virtually all of the dimculties experienced in the drying operation as heretofore performed. Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the formation in a continuous length of thread of a series of slack loops which are subjected to the action of the drying medium, dried to the desired extent, and collected in any desired form of package. As is readily apparent, this procedure, with slight modifications in the apparatus which in no way affect the scope or spirit of th invention, lends itself with equal adaptability to both continuous and discontinuous processes.

The apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings as illustrative of the invention is especially advantageous in that it will continuously accept thread directed to it, dry the thread, which is free from all 'tensional stress, and deliver'it to a suitable collecting device. The complete absence of tensional stress upon the thread during the drying operation permits the thread "to shrink freely, thereby eliminating the stretching action which produces the undesirable effects above referred to 'in connection with the usual methods'of drying thread produced by the conventional discontinuous processes. The invention therefore gives rise to a thread of uniform physical and physico-chemical properties, in-

T chine.

parts in elevation of one form of continuous spinning machine to which the present invention may advantageously be applied. Figure 2 is a partial front elevation on an enlarged scale of the lower portion of the machine of Figure 1. Figure 3 is section along line 3-3 of Figure 2 with parts in elevation. Figure 4 is a plan on an enlarged scale of the drying apparatus of Figure 1, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness. Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of a number of drying tubes. Throughout the drawings like reference characters refer to like parts.

Although, as hereinbefore explained, the invention is equally adaptable to other forms of processing apparatus, the illustrated embodiment of the invention shows a continuous processing machine embodying a plurality of thread-advancing thread store devices disposed in vertically stepped arrangement, each of said threadadvancing thread store devices being supported and driven from one end only. The thread-advancing thread store devices of the apparatus are arranged in apposite relation to each other with the supported end of each device other than the first directly below the unsupported end of the next preceding device. In consequence, thread led to the supported end of one of said threadadvancing thread store devices may be advanced therealong and discharged from the free end thereof to the supported end of the next succeeding thread-advancing thread store device.

As will appear from a consideration of the principles of the invention as hereinafter set forth, any one of various other arrangements of thread-advancing thread store devices may, if desired, be substituted for that shown. It is not necessary to the practice of the invention that the thread-advancing thread store devices take the form of thread-advancing reels as illustrated, but for convenience in describing the invention such thread-advancing thread store devices will be referred to hereinafter simply as reels. A suitable type of reel is that shown, described and claimed in application Serial No. 652,089, for Winding reel, filed January 16, 1933, in the name of Walter F. Knebusch (Patent 2,210,914). The reels shown in the accompanying drawings, while indicated only diagrammatically therein, differ from that described in said prior application only in that they are of cantilever form.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 each thread I is formed by extrusion of viscose from the spinneret 2 supplied by spinning pump 4' through mass tube 3 into a coagulating bath 5 contained in trough 6 disposed at the upper end of said apparatus. The thread I is withdrawn from the trough 6 by a suitable form of reel 1 which advances it in a plurality of closely spaced generally helical turns to a point beyond the edge of the trough, said thread then passing downward to the first of a series of similar reels bearing reference numerals 8 to I5, inclusive. On each of said reels the: thread is processed while stored in a plurality of closely spaced generally helical turns which are advanced axially of the reel. After leaving the lowermost reel l5, the thread passes to the drying apparatus 20, is subjected thereon to the action of the drying medium, and is removed therefrom by a reel 23 from which it may be led to a suitable collecting device, such, for example, as the cap-twister 24. The apparatus of Figure 1 is so constructed that a plurality of thread-producing units are disposed side by side along each face of the ma- The machine has two operating faces each of which extends lengthwise of the coagulating trough 6. Each thread-producing unit comprises a spinneret 2, its associated mass tube 3, spinning pump 4, reels 1 to 15, inclusive, drying apparatus 20, withdrawing reel 23, collecting device 24, and other associated apparatus. Corresponding parts of adjacent thread-producing units are disposed in corresponding positions lengthwise of the machine.

The reels 1 are mounted upon gear boxes 26 supported by the upper portion of the frame. They are driven through a suitable gearing arrangement by the longitudinally extending shaft 25 actuated by a suitable power source (not shown). Reels 8 to l5, inclusive, are supported upon inclined frame members 3| and are rotated by inclined shafts 21 through gears 28 by power transmitted by the shafts 29 extending lengthwise and on either side of the machine through gears 39 from a suitable power source (not shown). Withdrawing reel 23, which is preferably smaller than the other reels but similar in construction and mode of operation, is secured by hearing bracket 31 to the longitudinal, bar 34 supported by brackets 36 to the lower frame members 35 extending lengthwise of the machine. Reel 23 is actuated through the gears 33 by the longitudinally extending shaft 32 operating the several thread-withdrawing reels associated with each thread-producing unit.

The drying apparatus 2|], generally speaking, comprises a rotatable conveyor unit including a plurality of vertically disposed generally cylindrical tubes 22 open at both ends and connected together by the links 38 in regularly spaced relation to form an endless chain. The series of tubes extends transversely of the machine frame and, due to its flexibility, may be rotated in a horizontal plane. Sprockets 39 (Figure 2) engage the tubes 22 at either side of the machine after the fashion of a sprocket chain and provide the means of rotation of the series of tubes. Sprockets 39 are mounted upon the vertically extending shafts 40 held in position by the bearings 42 and 43 and driven by the gears 44 from the longitudinally extending shaft 45 actuated by a suitable source of power (not shown).

Tubes 22 are supported in their upright position by guides 46 which travel along in tracks 41 secured to the longitudinal frame members 35 by the brackets 48. The tracks 41 form an endless path as indicated in Figure 4 and serve to conduct the tubes 22 through the drying zone. The drying zone comprises a pair of inlet jackets 49 suspended above and fitting snugly over the top portion of the tubes 22 in such a manner as to direct heated air supplied by the ducts 50 extending lengthwise of and on either side of the machine through the tubes as they pass therethrough. A similar pair of outlet jackets 52 encloses the lower end of the tubes and provides an outlet for the air to the return ducts 53, which likewise extend longitudinally of the machine;

Due to the fact that the tubes 22 are spaced to permit their engagement with the sprockets 39, each of said tubes is provided with a lip 54 (Figure 5) extending out from one side thereof toward the adjacent tube but so designed as not to obstruct the opening at the upper end of'said tube nor in any way to interfere with its advance. Lip 54 is provided with a ridge portion 55 extending thereacross at right angles to the path of travel of the tubes. When the tubes are passed through the drying zone, the lips 54 not only serve to minimize the escape of air between the t bes ut a so. o. presentsuppo tlng ed es for the read, l as w ll. be. here naiter' expl ined.

In opera i n. each thread I, as it: is formed. is

c ntinu usly withdrawn fr m the oa ulat ng-- bath 5. by reel 1, advancing thereal' ng in. the manner previously described. It passesdownward through the thread channel; IE, to each in tu n o t e re ls 8; o incl sive. disposed therebelow. Up no acho saidre s 8't0 hllincius v one or more processing treatments is. perfiormed upon th ad- -r c ssine qu d: is. showered upon the thread from distributors, l1 disposed above said reels andis collected in the; drip pans m which it may be conducteiv hrou h suitable drain conduits either to the sewer or to a suitable reservoir and makeaup means for redistribution.

Such processing treatments may include the application to, the thread of additional coagulating liquid, desulphurizin washing, bleaching, or oiling liquids. It will. be noted that no processing liquid is applied to the thread; while stored upon the reel l5, which may be utilized as: a drip reel. The function of the drip reel is to permit the excess processing liquid from the, previous stage to drip ofi the thread, thus reducing the moisture content of the thread before it passes to drying apparatus 20.

Referring now to Figure 4, in which drip reel l and the withdrawing reel 23 have been superposed on the tubes 22 toindicatemoreclearly the relationship between th drying apparatus. and the processing series on either face of: the machine. the series of tubes22 passes directly below the discharge point of drip reel, l5. In threading up the apparatus. the operator grasps the thread end as itis discharged from; the reel l5,holds the thread acrossthe upper end of the tube 22 when it is immediately below the reel 15, and turns on the cock 5.6 controlling an air jet issuing; from the nozzle 5.! connected to the compressed air supply line 58 extending lengthwise of the machine. The stream of air against; the thread feeds itv into the tube 22 and; as the first tube is rotated out of position the thread is folded over the ridge 55 of the lip 54 between said tubes sup-. porting said thread in the form of aslack loop la inside th tube. As the chain of tubes 22 continues to rotate, the thread I is fed-into eachsuccessive tube and folded over each adjoining lip as it passes below the discharge point of drip reel I5 by the air jet from the nozzle 51.

As further indicated in Figure 4, the thread I suspended in the series of tubes 22 in the form of loops la is 'passed through the drying zone and thoroughly dried. The thread as so suspended is entirely free from any tension or other restraining influences other than the weight of the thread itself, which is negligible; so that the thread shrinks freely. The thread may be carried in such looped form entirely around the cycle as outlined by the channels '41 and withdrawn on the same sideof the machine as that on which it is introduced to the drying apparatus. For obvious reasons, however, it is preferable that one series of tubes be utilized to carry two threads.

Following the latter practice, a thread may be transported by one portion of the series of tubes from the processing bank on the left side of the machine, for example, to a collecting device on the right side, whil the other portion of the same series of tubes may simultaneously carry a second thread from the right-hand bank in the opposite direction. In the threading up operation. when. the thread. reach s. the pp site: side of; the: machine, the, thread endis removed fromthe; tube, threaded through aguide 59, and wound upon the previously described withdrawing reel 23 which. serves continuously to remove: the thread from the-tubeeadvame it thereal ng and dischar e it from i s unsupported end. The thread is henpassed: th ou h a guide 60 and collected as; finished thread upon any suitable collooting-device; such, for example, as cap-twister As previouslyindicated, modifications, may be made; theiapparatus which will in no, way. afiect the scope or spirit; of the invention. By way of illustration, a. godet or a. driven roller may be substituted: for the withdrawing reel 23 to perform the task of continuously removing the. thread, from the tubes 22. Many other minor changes willsuggest themselvesto one conversant with the art of artificial silk manufacture. Numerous other arrangements of thread-advancing thread store devices may be used in the practice of the invention. Theapparatus is equally welladapted to-use with any of the conventional discontinuous processes.

Thread produced and, processed according to the methods described herein is found to possess a. very. low residual capacity to shrink. It may, therefore, readily be uesdin weaving of cloth. The factthat it is permitted to shrink at will while entirely free from, tensional stresses of any kind operates so that defects. of the kind previously-mentioned asexperienced with, thread produced according to conventional methodsv are virtually completelyeliminated.

It is intended that. the patent shall cover, by suitable expresion in, the appended claims, whateyer features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What. isclaimed is:

1. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a. plurality of thread-producing units at least one of which is disposed on each of two opposite sides of said apparatus, each ofsaid thread-producing units including means for forming the thread; means for subjecting. the thread tov one or more processing treatments; collecting means, one for each thread-producing unit, for winding, the thread into package form; meanscommon to. two oppositely disposed threadproducing units for conveying the thread from I the side of the apparatus upon which the thread is processed to the collecting means associated with the thread-producing unit on the opposite side of the apparatus, said conveying means carrying two threads simultaneously in opposite directions; and means cooperating with said conveying means for subjecting the thread to treatment while the thread is carried by said conveymg means.

2. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a plurality of thread-producing units at least one of which is disposed on each of two opposite sides of said apparatus, each of said thread-producing units including means for forming the thread; means for subjecting the thread to one or more processing treatments; collecting means, one for each thread-producing unit, for winding the thread into package form; means common to two oppositely disposed threadproducing units for conveying the thread in undulated form from the side of the apparatus upon which the thread is processed to the collecting means associated with the thread-producing unit on the opposite side of said apparatus, said conveying means carrying two threads simultaneously in opposite directions; and means cooperating with said conveying means for subjecting the thread to a dryingmedium while the thread is carried by said conveying means.

3. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a pair of oppositely disposed threadprocessing units each of which includes a source of thread; means for subjecting the threads in said thread-processing units to one or more processing treatments; conveying means common to and extending between said thread-processing units for carrying the threads from said threadprocessing units in opposite directions simulta neously; means for depositing said threads in undulated for-m upon said conveying means; means cooperating wtih said conveying means for subjecting said threads to a drying medium while said threads are carried by said conveying means; and collecting means, one for each threadprocessing unit, for winding said threads in package form. I

4. Apparatus for drying thread comprising a plurality of generally tubular members arranged to form a series; means for introducing the wet thread into the interior of said tubular members in the form of a succession of longitudinally extending loops, one such loop being suspended in each of said tubular members; means for passing a drying medium through said tubular members; and means for withdrawing the dried thread from said tubular members.

5. Apparatus for drying thread comprising a plurality of generally tubular members arranged to form a series; means for introducing the wet thread into the interior of said tubular members in the form of a succession of longitudinally extending loops, one such loop being suspended in each of said tubular members; means for moving said tubular members in a predetermined path; means for passing a drying medium through said tubular members; and means for withdrawing the dried thread from said tubular members.

6. Apparatus for drying thread comprising a plurality of generally tubular members arranged to form a series; means for supporting said tubular members in parallelvertical relationship; means located above said tubular members for introducing the wet thread into the interior of said tubular members in the form of a succession' of longitudinally extending loops; means for moving said tubular members in a predetermined path; means above'and below said tubular members over at least a-portion of said path for passing a drying medium through said tubular members; and means for withdrawing the dried thread from said tubular members.

- '7. Apparatus for drying thread comprising a plurality of generally tubular members arranged to forma series; means for supporting said tubular members inparallel vertical relationship; means for moving said tubular members in a predetermined path; means located above said tubularm'embers at a plurality of points along said path for introducing the wet thread into the interior of said tubular members in the form of a succession of longitudinally extending loops; means for'withdrawing the dried thread from said tubular members, said means corresponding in number to the number of'means employed in introducing thread into said tubular members; and means above and below said tubular members over at least a portion of said path between said feeding means and said withdrawing means for passing a drying medium through said tubular members. I 8. Apparatus for drying thread comprising a plurality of generally tubular members arranged to form a series; means for introducing the wet thread into the interior of each of said tubular members; means for supplying a drying medium to said tubular members; means for withdrawing the thread from said tubular members; and means for moving said tubular members relatively to said feeding, drying, and withdrawing means.

- 9. Apparatus for drying thread comprising a plurality of generally tubular members arranged to form a series; means for introducing into the interior of each of said tubular members in the form of a longitudinally extending loop a portion of the thread to be dried; means for withdrawing the dried thread from said tubular members; means disposed between said feeding and said withdrawing means for passing a drying medium through said tubular members; and means for positively advancing said tubular members successively from the feeding means to the dry ing means and thence to the withdrawing means.

Louis E. LOVETT. 

